Bata's legacy in Möhlin

Baťa’s satellite
town in Switzerland was built in 1932 according to the plans of the Czech
architects Antonin Vitek and Miroslav Drofa, in cooperation with the Swiss
architect Hannibal Neaf. The Factory and housing estate were built as a part of
the town Möhlin, in a close distance from the railway line, river port and
Basel airport. The original plan included 10 factory blocks and 170 houses for
2300 workers. Only 6 factories, director’s residence, a warehouse, an
administrative building and 20 four-family and two-family houses, 2 homes for unmarried
employees, and garages were completed. The town developed as a green park, with
a central axis lined with trees. The factory in Möhlin is only one of a very
few examples, where Baťa’s
theory of shared living has been preserved until today. Individual building
plots are not divided by any fences and the residents share the external space together. I visited the park during a very quiet time and it
became one of the best examples of residential projects I have visited so far.

The shoe factory closed in 1990 and the whole complex was
purchased by Jakob Müller AG, who lets the commercial buildings for multiple
firms and converted two listed production buildings into residential flats,
with people starting to move in March 2017.

I was politely surprised by Möhlin’s atmosphere. The town
aims to develop as a sustainable town with an emphasis placed on walking and
cycling. Community spaces are well maintained and city maps, situated every few
meters, inform about points of interests as well as walking and cycling routes.
A huge bike shed is situated in front of the train station to be used by
residents.

Map of Möhlin: Rheinfelden Salt works is situated on the
West, Baťa’s Park is situated on the North.